Sewing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sewing apparatus includes a sewing machine, an electronic paper and a processor. The processor is disposed in the sewing machine, is electrically connected to the electronic paper and the sewing machine, and stores one set of program codes. The processor controls the sewing machine to perform a sewing procedure upon executing the set of program codes when the sewing machine is in an activated state, and controls the electronic paper to display default content related to an operation manual of the sewing machine when the sewing machine is in an inactivated state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No.106129842 filed on Aug. 31, 2017.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a sewing apparatus including a sewing machineand a display device.

BACKGROUND

A conventional sewing machine is capable of performing a plurality ofsewing procedures for making flat stitching, zigzag stitching, overlockstitching, embroidery, etc., as controlled by a microcontroller whichstores a plurality of sets of program codes to be executed thereby.However, an inexperienced user needs to refer to a physical user manualin order to select a proper sewing procedure and to find out how toprepare the sewing machine to make a desired sewing work. Further,information regarding the sewing apparatus, e.g., a total number ofstitches made since last maintenance, is not revealed to the user.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a sewing apparatusfor alleviating the above drawbacks of the conventional sewingapparatus.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a sewing apparatus includes asewing machine, a display device and a processor module. The sewingmachine is to be activated to enable performing of a sewing procedurethereby when the sewing apparatus in an activated state. The displaydevice includes a frame mounted on the sewing machine, and an electronicpaper disposed in the frame. The processor module is disposed in thesewing machine, is electrically connected to the electronic paper andthe sewing machine, and stores at least one set of program codes. Theprocessor is programmed to control the sewing machine to perform thesewing procedure upon executing the set of program codes when the sewingmachine is in the activated state, and to control the electronic paperto display default content related to an operation manual of the sewingmachine when the sewing machine is not in the activated state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent inthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is schematic view of a sewing apparatus according to oneembodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a display device of the sewing apparatusthat displays default content according to one embodiment of thisdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the display device that displays a sewingpattern to be made by a sewing machine;

FIG. 4 is another schematic view of the display device that displaysoperation data related to the sewing machine; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a sewing apparatus according to anotherembodiment of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be notedthat where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminalportions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally havesimilar characteristics.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sewing apparatus 2 according to oneembodiment of this disclosure includes a sewing machine 21, a displaydevice 3 and a processor module. The sewing apparatus 2 is operable toswitch between an activated state where the sewing machine 21 isactivated and enabled to perform a sewing procedure as controlled by theprocessor module, and an inactivated state where the sewing machine 21is disabled from performing any sewing procedure. For example, theactivated state means that the sewing apparatus 2 is powered up and thesewing machine 21 is ready to perform a sewing procedure, and theinactivated state means that the sewing apparatus 2 is powered down orthat the sewing apparatus 2 is powered up but the sewing apparatus 21 isnot controlled by the processor module (i.e., not ready to perform asewing procedure).

The display device 3 includes a frame 31 mounted on the sewing machine21, and an electronic paper 32 disposed in the frame 31.

The processor module is disposed in the sewing machine 21 (namely,inside a housing of the sewing machine 21), is electrically connected tothe electronic paper 32 and the sewing machine 21, and stores at leastone set of program codes. In this embodiment, the processor module is amicrocontroller 22. The microcontroller 22 is programmed to control thesewing machine 21 to perform the sewing procedure upon executing the setof program codes when the sewing machine 21 is in the activated state.In one embodiment, a plurality of sets of program codes are stored inthe microcontroller 22, and each of the sets of program codescorresponds to a particular sewing procedure. For example, the sewingprocedure is one of an embroider procedure for embroidering a pattern, afirst stitching procedure for plain stitching, a second stitchingprocedure for zigzag lock stitching, etc.

The microcontroller 22 is further programmed to control the electronicpaper 32 to display images related to the sewing machine 21. In oneembodiment, the sewing apparatus 2 further includes a battery (notshown) that is electrically connected to the microcontroller 22 and theelectronic paper 32 and that provides electricity to the microcontroller22 and the electronic paper 32 when the sewing apparatus 2 is powereddown (e.g., in the inactivated state). When the sewing apparatus 2 is inthe inactivated state, the microcontroller 22 controls the electronicpaper 32 to display an image of default content. In one embodiment, thedefault content is stored in the microcontroller 22, and is related toan operation manual of the sewing machine 21. For example, the defaultcontent is a quick start guide regarding how to prepare the sewingmachine 21 and a bobbin thread (see FIG. 2). Due to the nature of theelectronic paper 32 that needs no electricity to hold an image displayedthereon, a relatively low amount of electricity is required for thesewing apparatus 2.

Further referring to FIG. 3, the microcontroller 22 controls theelectronic paper 32 to display an image representing a sewing pattern tobe made by the sewing machine 21 upon executing the sewing procedurewhen the sewing apparatus 2 is in the activated state. Themicrocontroller 22 is further programmed to record operation datarelated to the sewing machine 21 that is performing the sewing procedureto make the sewing pattern, and to control the electronic paper 32 todisplay an image of the operation data during execution of the sewingprocedure. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation data includesa completion percentage of the sewing procedure (e.g., the embroiderprocedure), a total number of stitches performed by the sewing machine21 during execution of the current sewing procedure, a total number ofstitches made since last maintenance of the sewing apparatus 2, and soforth. In this embodiment, the image displayed by the electronic paper32 further includes current date and time and a quick response (QR) codethat contains data related to a website of a manufacturer of the sewingapparatus 2, and the disclosure is not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, the microcontroller 22 is further programmed tomeasure a time of use of the sewing apparatus 2 and/or consumablesthereof, and to control the electronic paper 32 to display a reminderimage to remind a user of the sewing apparatus 2 that the sewingapparatus 2 should be maintained after the time of use is greater than apredetermined time length. For example, once the time of use is greaterthan a predetermined time length, the microcontroller 22 controls theelectronic paper 32 to alternately display the reminder image and thedefault content when the sewing apparatus 2 is in the inactivated state.By this way, the user of the sewing apparatus 2 can be notified of thetiming for maintenance of the sewing apparatus 2 and/or replacement ofconsumable components of the sewing apparatus 2 to thereby lengthenlifespan of the sewing apparatus 2.

Now referring to FIG. 5, a sewing apparatus 2′ according to anotherembodiment of this disclosure is similar to the sewing apparatus 2 ofFIG. 1. In this embodiment, the processor module includes a firstmicrocontroller 22′ and a second microcontroller 33. The firstmicrocontroller 22′ stores the sets of program codes, is electricallyconnected to the sewing machine 21, and is programmed to control thesewing machine 21 to perform, upon executing one of the sets of programcodes, the particular sewing procedure corresponding to the executed oneof the sets of program codes when the sewing apparatus 2′ is in theactivated state. The second microcontroller 33 is electrically connectedto the first microcontroller 22′ and the electronic paper 32, stores thedefault content, and is programmed to control the electronic paper 32 todisplay an image related to the sewing machine 21, e.g., the image ofthe default content when the sewing apparatus 2′ is not in the activatedstate (i.e., in the inactivated state).

The first microcontroller 22′ is further programmed to determine whetherthe sewing apparatus 2′ is in the activated state, and to notify thesecond microcontroller 33 of the result of the determination. The secondmicrocontroller 33 is further programmed to control the electronic paper32 to display the image of the sewing pattern to be made by the sewingmachine 21 upon executing the set of program codes when the sewingapparatus 2′ is in the activated state.

The first microcontroller 22′ is further programmed to record theoperation data related to the sewing machine 21 during execution of thesewing procedure. The second microcontroller 33 is further programmed toobtain the operation data from the first microcontroller 22′, to storethe operation data therein, and to control the electronic paper 32 todisplay the image representing the operation data.

To sum up, by virtue of the electronic paper 32 that displays theoperation manual when the sewing apparatus 2, 2′ is in the inactivatedstate, an inexperience user can operate the sewing apparatus 2, 2′without referring to a physical user manual. Further, the electronicpaper 32 displays the operation data related to the sewing machine 21and the sewing pattern to be made by the sewing machine 21 when thesewing apparatus 2, 2′ is in the activated state. Additionally, noelectricity is required to hold an image displayed by the electronicpaper 32, and thus the sewing apparatus 2, 2′ has relatively low powerconsumption.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details have been set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to oneskilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practicedwithout some of these specific details. It should also be appreciatedthat reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number andso forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicmay be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be furtherappreciated that in the description, various features are sometimesgrouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereoffor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in theunderstanding of various inventive aspects.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what areconsidered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intendedto cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope ofthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sewing apparatus comprising: a sewing machineto be activated to enable performing of a sewing procedure thereby whensaid sewing apparatus is in an activated state; a display deviceincluding a frame mounted on said sewing machine, and an electronicpaper disposed in said frame; and a processor module disposed in saidsewing machine, electrically connected to said electronic paper and saidsewing machine, storing at least one set of program codes, andprogrammed to control said sewing machine to perform the sewingprocedure upon executing the set of program codes when said sewingapparatus is in the activated state, and control said electronic paperto display default content related to an operation manual of said sewingmachine when said sewing apparatus is not in the activated state.
 2. Thesewing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor module isa microcontroller.
 3. The sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 2,wherein said processor module is further programmed to control saidelectronic paper to display a sewing pattern to be made by said sewingmachine upon performing the sewing procedure when said sewing apparatusis in the activated state.
 4. The sewing apparatus as claimed in claim2, wherein said processor module is further programmed to recordoperation data related to said sewing machine during execution of thesewing procedure.
 5. The sewing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid processor module is further programmed to control said electronicpaper to display operation data related to said sewing machineperforming the sewing procedure.
 6. The sewing apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said processor module includes: a first microcontrollerstoring the set of program codes, electrically connected to said sewingmachine, and programmed to control said sewing machine to perform thesewing procedure upon executing the set of program codes when saidsewing apparatus is in the activated state; and a second microcontrollerelectrically connected to said first microcontroller and said electronicpaper, storing the default content, and programmed to control saidelectronic paper to display the default content when said sewingapparatus is not in the activated state.
 7. The sewing apparatus asclaimed in claim 6, wherein said first microcontroller is furtherprogrammed to determine whether said sewing apparatus is in theactivated state and to notify said second microcontroller of result ofthe determination, and said second microcontroller is further programmedto control said electronic paper to display a sewing pattern to be madeby said sewing machine upon performing the sewing procedure when saidsewing apparatus is in the activated state.
 8. The sewing apparatus asclaimed in claim 6, wherein said first microcontroller is programmed torecord operation data related to said sewing machine during execution ofthe sewing procedure, and said second microcontroller is configured toobtain the operation data from said first microcontroller and to storethe operation data therein.
 9. The sewing apparatus as claimed in claim8, wherein said second microcontroller is further programmed to controlsaid electronic paper to display the operation data.